I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Congress Agrees on Defense Authorization Bill. On December 17, Congress reached agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act of 2025 (H.R.5009), which provides $895.2 billion in defense spending. The bill increases defense aid to Israel, including support for it to boost humanitarian assistance to Gaza, authorizes assistance to vetted Syrian groups and the Iraqi Security Forces, and extends the “Caesar sanctions” on Syria, among other items.
Cardin and Shaheen Seek to Strengthen Support for Lebanon. On December 18, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), introduced S.5574, which seeks to strengthen US support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, provide humanitarian relief to displaced persons, support essential state institutions, and aid in ending the deadlock on electing a president.
Bill Targets Changes to US-Israel Anti-Tunneling Cooperation. On December 17, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced S.5562, which would modify US-Israel cooperation in destroying Hamas’s tunnels on the Gaza-Egypt border.
Senate Resolution Celebrates Service of Israel’s Ambassador to the United States. On December 17, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced S.Res.931, which applauds the service of Michael Herzog as Israel’s ambassador to the United States.
Democrats Lead Legislation on Syria. On December 18, SFRC Chairman Cardin and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) introduced S.Con.Res.45 and H.Con.Res.135. The concurrent resolutions affirm the need for a stable and secure Syria, underscore the importance of protecting minority groups, call for a peaceful and inclusive political transition, and emphasize efforts to rebuild Syrian civil society.
Bipartisan Senate Resolution Calls on UN Security Council to Enforce and Expand Darfur Arms Embargo. On December 18, Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced S.Res.933, which urges the UN Security Council to increase enforcement of the Darfur arms embargo and extend it to all of Sudan.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Cardin and Colleagues Continue Push to Address Sudan Crisis. On December 17, Chairman Cardin urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ensure that the UN Security Council more vigorously address the situation in Sudan. Cardin called for increased protection of civilians, support for humanitarian aid, enforcement and extension of the Darfur arms embargo, and accountability measures. In addition, SFRC Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID) and Sens. Booker, Rounds, Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Todd Young (R-IN) urged President Joe Biden to target external actors fueling the conflict in Sudan and to strengthen the US response to the conflict.
House Progressives Seek to Withhold Offensive Weapons from Israel. On December 17, Reps. Greg Casar (D-TX) and Summer Lee (D-PA) led 18 other Democratic House members in a letter to Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, urging the administration to suspend offensive military transfers to Israel.
House Republicans Push to Cut Funds for Universities that Boycott Israel. On December 18, the House released a staff report on anti-Semitism in coordination with Republican leadership. Among its recommendations, the document reiterates a call to cut federal funding from universities that engage in a boycott of Israel and calls on universities to treat “discrimination against Zionists” as an “unacceptable antisemitic civil rights violation.”
Rep. Jacobs Announces UAE Commitment to End RSF Support. On December 19, Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) announced on “X” that she has received assurances from the Biden administration that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will stop arming Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. Jacobs stated that the administration will assess UAE’s compliance by January 17 and noted that she and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are prepared to reintroduce legislation to block arms sales to the UAE if it does not uphold its Sudan commitment.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Sullivan Addresses Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon. On December 18, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the Biden administration will continue to target the so-called Islamic State in eastern Syria and that it has advised the incoming Trump administration to do the same. Sullivan reaffirmed US support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and stressed the “need to stand up for them and ensure that they are secure enough in their position that they can continue to be the good partners they’ve been.” Sullivan also stated that the administration has engaged in talks with Syria’s new leaders Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). On Israel and Gaza, Sullivan reiterated US support for Israel but expressed concern for the civilian death toll in Gaza and continued obstacles to providing humanitarian assistance. On Lebanon, Sullivan expressed optimism that the temporary ceasefire will last.
2) Department of State
Blinken Says Nuclear Iran Not Inevitable. On December 18, Secretary Blinken said that he does not think that it is inevitable that Iran will acquire nuclear weapons. He said that the “costs and consequences to them for pursuing that route I think would be severe, so I am hopeful that that remains in check.”
Blinken Hopeful About Opportunity in Syria. On December 19, Secretary Blinken said that “for the first time in decades, the people of Syria can go forward without a dictator, without a terrorist group dominating their lives, without one sect or one group running things at the exclusion of others, and without foreign power calling all the shots…but it really requires HTS and other groups that are there to move forward in this inclusive way.” Blinken added that it is important that HTS and all emerging authorities meet US expectations of an inclusive and secure Syria in order to receive formal US recognition.
Blinken Still Pushing for Ceasefire in Gaza. On December 18, Secretary Blinken restated that a ceasefire and release of hostages is the “quickest and most effective path to ending the conflict in Gaza.” Blinken reiterated the importance of having a post-conflict plan “that allows Israel to withdraw all its forces from Gaza but that ensures that there’s going to be security, effective governance, reconstruction in Gaza.”
Blinken Encourages Trump Administration to Facilitate Israel-Saudi Normalization. On December 18, Secretary Blinken said that the incoming Trump administration should continue the Biden team’s work to broker a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Blinken said that “President Trump did a very good thing the first time around with the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, with Bahrain. And now the opportunity is there—and I know this is something that the president will be focused on—to broaden that out with the Saudis.”
Department Reiterates that Israel’s Actions in Syria are “Temporary.” On December 18, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel responded to Israel’s expanded buffer zone in Syria, deployment of tanks, and airstrikes, saying that “these kinds of actions and the limited defense of its borders are temporary.” On December 19, Patel commented that the United States is continuing to work to prevent further escalation in Syria, particularly in the north. He expressed concern about the ability of local partners, such as the Syria Democratic Forces, to continue to conduct the joint Defeat-ISIS mission.
Blinken Seeks Stronger Lebanese State. On December 19, Secretary Blinken said the United States wants to see the election of a new president and Lebanese state institutions “standing up and taking responsibility for the lives of Lebanese.” Blinken asserted that these steps offer a better path forward for Lebanon, “and it also means Israel doesn’t have to push things any further.”
United States Provides $200 Million in Additional Assistance to Sudan. On December 19, Secretary Blinken announced that the United States will provide nearly $200 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Sudan. Speaking at the UN Security Council, Secretary Blinken outlined four ways that the United States and the international community can address the ongoing crisis: increase the amount of aid getting in safely and unhindered, press both warring parties to protect civilians and end the fighting, prevent outside actors from exacerbating the conflict, and continue to support the Sudanese people and the transition to inclusive and civilian-led democratic governance.
State Officials Make First Syria Visit in Years. On December 20, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, and Senior Advisor Amb. Daniel Rubinstein traveled to Damascus to meet with civilians, members of civil society, humanitarians, and others. They also met with representatives of HTS to discuss principles for a political transition. According to the State readout, Leaf reaffirmed US support for an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process that leads to representative governance in the spirit of UN Security Council resolution 2254. She also stressed the importance of locating detained American Austin Tice.
State Officials Brief on Syria Visit. On December 20, Leaf, Carstens, and Rubinstein briefed reporters on their visit to Damascus earlier that day. Leaf stated that the new Syrian leadership told them it was committed to ensuring that “terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside of Syria or externally, including to the U.S. and our partners in the region.” Leaf commented on US sanctions on Syria, remarking that “the Caesar Act has pretty far-ranging restrictions” on US support for reconstruction, but “there is latitude for that in humanitarian assistance generally.” Carstens said that the Biden administration is working hard on locating Tice but that “the information that we have right now doesn’t confirm either in one way or the other” whether Tice is still alive.
3) Department of Defense
CENTCOM Conducts Strikes in Yemen. On December 16 and 21, CENTCOM forces conducted strikes on Houthi command and control and missile storage facilities in Yemen.
CENTCOM Conducts Strikes in Syria. On December 16 and 21, CENTCOM forces conducted strikes on camps and operatives in Syria belonging to the so-called Islamic State, resulting in the death of one leader and 14 operatives.
Secretary Austin Speaks with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister. On December 17, Secretary Austin spoke with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Saoud Al Thani to reaffirm the US-Qatar defense partnership and to discuss regional security issues, including ceasefire in Lebanon, the Defeat-ISIS mission, Houthi military capabilities, and Gaza.
Pentagon Acknowledges More Troops in Syria. On December 19, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters, “I learned today that in fact there are approximately 2,000 US troops in Syria,” rather the 900 previously reported. Ryder asserted the additional troops are “considered temporary rotational forces.” Ryder reiterated that the Syria deployment remains focused on the mission to defeat IS and expressed concern about the effect on this mission of fighting between the SDF and Turkish-backed forces.
4) Department of the Treasury
New Sanctions Target Iran UAV Production and Petroleum Trade. On December 18, Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two entities and two individuals for their role in developing and procuring components for navigational systems for the Iranian military. The Department of State announced concurrent sanctions. On December 19, Treasury sanctioned four entities and three vessels involved in the trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals, and State announced concurrent sanctions.
Treasury Sanctions Houthi Financing Scheme. On December 19, OFAC sanctioned a dozen individuals and entities for their roles in trafficking arms, laundering money, and shipping illicit Iranian petroleum for the Houthis.
5) United States Agency for International Development
Administrator Power Condemns Attack on IDP Camp in Sudan. On December 15, Administrator Samantha Power condemned recent attacks on North Darfur’s Zamzam camp and a military airstrike in El Fasher, which killed more than100 people. Power urged the warring parties to cease hostilities and open full humanitarian access.
